Grading the Three Toronto Maple Leafs 2021 NHL Draft Picks

Vyacheslav Peksa

There is no doubt that the Leafs had a very specific player in mind in the sixth round and they used their pick to select him. That would be goaltending prospect Vyacheslav Peksa. He is 6’2 and 163-pounds.

Peksa was well scouted by the Leafs because Jon Elkin was in Russia to watch Toronto’s fourth-round selection in the 2020 draft, goaltender Artur Akhtyamov. While there, it was Akhtyamov’s backup for Irbis Kazan in the MHL that caught Elkin’s eye. That happens to be Peksa.

This past season, Akhtyamov played nine regular-season games and 12 playoff contests while also splitting time with the organization’s KHL club, AK Bars Kazan. Peksa was between the pipes for more regular-season MHL Kazan games. He played 17 contests and posted a 2.57 goals against average and 0.909 save percentage.

There is likely some strategy to selecting Peksa as well. Akhtyamov, who hasn’t yet signed with Toronto, had an excellent year. There may be some thought around building comfort for Akhtyamov to come to North America by also having him come with someone he knows well in Peksa.

If the Leafs had a seventh-round pick, it’s my opinion that they would have used it to take Peksa, who was passed over in last year’s draft and may not have been on any other GM’s draft board.

Draft Grade: B+

There’s a lot to like about how Dubas maximized the few picks he had. While there may have been a few players I liked ahead of who they selected, I’m very encouraged by the picks they did make. Time will tell, but it looks like the Toronto Maple Leafs did well on Saturday.